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The
Sierra Pacific Synod
Weekly
E-Newsletter
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Sierra Pacific Synod,
ELCA
Jan.
20, 2011
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It's fog season in Fresno and
much of the Central Valley. Not coastal fog that comes and goes,
but thick murkiness that nestles close to the ground and lingers, day
after day. This is the first place I've lived that includes a fog
forecast as part of the evening news during this time of the year.
And that's a good thing, because when the fog lies dense and impenetrable
on the road, being prepared to slow down and take it easy is very importan
The Valley fog hides the sun for days at a time,
creating a world of gray. Because of all of the moisture in the
air, it also obscures things in the distance, even if the fog isn't low
to the ground.
This time of dim light and blurred vision brings to
mind St. Paul's observation in his first letter to the Corinthians,
chapter 13: "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but
then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part;
then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known."
Seeing each other clearly, and knowing one another
fully, requires communication and the exchange of information. In
my roles as Synod Communicator and Director for Mission Support it is
vitally important to keep the lines of communication open, and to give
and receive information.
So, if you will allow me, a commercial of sorts:
please keep the information flowing between your congregation and the
Sierra Pacific Synod and the ELCA! This early part of the year is
filled with requests for information -- parochial reports, rostered
leader reports, statements of intent for mission support, etc. And
the question is often asked, "Are all of these reports really necessary?"
In a word, "Yes!" Not just to make
some data junkies happy -- though it does do that! -- but to help synod
and churchwide staff members better able to see clearly and
know fully, so that we can support and encourage your
ministry, and many others.
For instance, Bp. Mark reads every rostered leader's
report and responds to that leader. I review each mission support
estimate and share that information with our finance team. ELCA
staff members compile profiles of congregations and tell us how we're
doing in meeting the church's multicultural and other goals.
Communicating and sharing informa-tion helps
to let some light shine on us and our various ministries, and brings
us closer together. Help can be offered when it is needed;
encouragement can be given to people and places needing a boost; and
blessings and joys can be celebrated!
Thanks for letting me share this with you. I
pray that bright light and clear vision may accompany you throughout this
Epiphany season, and always.
Synod Communicator and Director for Mission Support
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We remember
in prayer...
Pastor Linda Vogelgesang's (St. John's, Antioch)
mother, having knee replacement surgery on Jan. 24, and her father,
dealing with various health issues
Dr. Jane Strohl (PLTS), recovering from knee
replacement surgery
We invite you to lift up these ministry partners in
prayer:
All
Saints Lutheran Church, Novato; Christ
the King Lutheran Church, Orangevale; Resurrection
Lutheran Church, Oakland; Grace Lutheran Church, Palo
Alto; Mariposa Lutheran Church, Mariposa
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2011
IRS MILEAGE RATES
The Internal Revenue Service has issued the 2011
optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of
operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving
purposes. Beginning Jan. 1, 2011, the standard mileage rates for
the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) is:
- 51
cents per mile for business miles
- 19
cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes
- 14 cents per
mile driven in service of charitable organizations
For additional information please
refer to this IRS webpage.
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The
Re-Emerging Multicultural Church
A Conference on Building Multicultural Ministry
Friday,
April 1, 2011, 6 p.m. to Saturday, April 2, 4 p.m.
St. Matthew Lutheran Church,
Presenters: Rev. Dr. Mark DeYmaz, founding
pastor of Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas, and Rev. Dr. Steed Davidson,
Assistant Professor of Old Testament, PLTS
Who is this conference for? Everyone:
pastors, lay leaders, staff, worship leaders, anyone interested in
building an effective multicultural church. To print a conference
brochure, click here; register
online at saintmatthew.org/conference.
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2011
STATEMENT OF INTENT RESPONSES
A friendly reminder: Please
make sure that your congregation submits its 2011 Statement of Intent
form as soon as possible! 1) click here for a .pdf
version which can be printed, or here for a
"fillable" version; 2) email Cindi Eckert and she will mail one
to you; or 3) call Cindi at 559-345-2725 x120 and she will mail one to
you.
If you have already submitted
your 2011 estimate of giving, THANK YOU!
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LivingLutheran.com
A
Place to be Lutheran Online!
The
new LivingLutheran.com is
your place for fresh, daily content and conversation on what it means to
"live Lutheran." This is where you will find articles and
resources from Seeds for the Parish that help you grow your
ELCA congregation's ministry.
Read
about incredible ELCA ministries in the U.S. and around the world. Get to know other ELCA Lutherans. There's
something different on LivingLutheran. com each day. Don't miss out. Check back
daily for new stories of inspiration, videos and more.
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JOURNEY
WITH CHRIST:
LIVING
OUR MISSION
This conference is designed for those who encounter
and work with adult faith formation in congregational settings -
especially those who are seeking God or who are new to the Christian life
and faith. A brochure and registration form are available here, or contact
Clark Brown for more information and registration materials at
831-375-2042 or by email.
When: February 11-13, 2011
Where: San Damiano Retreat Ctr., 710 Highland Dr., Danville -
925-837-9141
Cost: Free
to first 25 Sierra Pacific Synod Registrants. Single occupancy $218; double occupancy $188,
per person; for 2 nights, 6 meals
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RECONCILING
IN CHRIST / WELCOMING SUNDAY
Lutherans Concerned/North America
has designated Jan. 30, 2011 as Reconciling in Christ/Welcoming
Sunday. How can your congregation be more welcoming? Go here for
information and resources.
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2011
Retired Clergy/AiMs/Spouses/Widows and Widowers Retreat
This
year's Retreat will be held at the San
Damiano Retreat Center in Danville, Mon., Feb. 28 and Tues., March
1. Dr. Terence Frethiem, the Lovell Professor of Old Testament at
Luther Seminary, will present "A Relationship to Die For: What does it mean for God to enter into a relationship that is
'real'?" Click here for more
information and a registration form, or contact Mike and Linda Rogers at 559-435-7739, or by email.
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Sierra
Pacific Synod Youth Committee Elementary Retreat
Bring your 3rd-6th graders and
join us for a great retreat at one of two locations. This weekend
will be filled with lots of activities and an amazing speaker - Aaron
Tidwell! For more information, costs and registration
information visit our website.
Weekend #1 -
Feb. 25-27 at Mt. Cross, near Santa Cruz
Weekend
#2 - March 11-13 at Sly Park, east
of Sacramento
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Shane
Claiborne, Christian Activist, to Speak in Sacramento and Davis
Join Christian activist, Shane
Claiborne, in Sacramento or Davis as he speaks candidly on issues of
faith, social justice, peacemaking and
Jesus - inviting
the community to engage in passionate acts of discipleship.
Shane's
ministry experience includes working with Mother Teresa in Calcutta,
serving a megachurch near Chicago, visiting Baghdad as part of a peace
mission, and co-founding The Simple Way, a faith community in inner-city
Philadelphia. Shane's website describes
his work and philosophy.
Shane will be at the Faith
Community Rally at the State Capital on Tues., Feb. 1 at 12 noon.
That evening he will speak at St. John's, Sacramento, at 7 p.m.
Click here for more
information.
On
Wed., Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m., Shane will present the 2011 St. Augustine
Lecture for The Belfry, the Lutheran Episcopal Campus Ministry at
Davis. Details about this appearance can be found here.
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SYNOD
CALENDAR
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January 21-23 JAM Confirmation
January 28-29 Synod Council
February 11-13 "Journey with
Christ" Catechumenate Workshop,
February 15 Assembly Planning
Committee, Hyatt, Burlingame
February
20-22 Rostered Leaders,
February
25-27 Elementary
Retreat #1, Mt. Cross
February 28 - March 1
Retired Clergy/Spouse/Lay
Rostered//Widows/Widowers
Retreat, San Damiano, Danville
March 3-8 Conference of Bishops
March 11-13 Elementary
Retreat #2, Sly Park
March 12 Rwanda Connections
Committee Annual Mtg., 1-4 p.m.,
708 Lake Front Dr., Sacramento
March 17 Assembly Planning
Committee, Office of the Bishop,
April 1-2 Multicultural Ministry
April 8-9 Candidacy Committee
April 12 Assembly Planning
Committee, Office of the Bishop,
May
12 Synod Council, Hyatt
Regency, Burlingame
May 12 Assembly Planning
Committee, Hyatt Regency,
May 13-15 Synod Assembly,
Hyatt Regency, Burlingame
June 9 Council of Deans, Office
Office of the Bishop, Sacramento
June 24-25 Synod Council
August 14-20 Churchwide
Assembly, Orlando, FL
August 26-27 Candidacy Committee
September 23-24 Synod Council
September 29 - October 4
Conference of Bishops,
Lutheran Center, Chicago
October 11-13 Professional
Leaders' Conference, Asilomar
October 21-22 Candidacy Committee
November 4-6 Hunger Education
2012
January 5-9 Bishops' Academy
January 18-19 Council of Deans
Retreat, Christ the King
Retreat
Center, Citrus Heights
March 1-6 Conference of Bishops
July 18-22 ELCA Youth Gathering,
New Orleans, LA
October 4-9 Conference of Bishops,
Lutheran Center, Chicago
2013
January 16-17 Council of Deans
Retreat, Christ the King
Retreat
Center, Citrus Heights
February 28 - March 5 Conference
of Bishops
October 3-8 Conference of Bishops,
Lutheran Center, Chicago
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TAKE
THE 2011 HEALTH ASSESSMENT!
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FREE
LENTEN MATERIALS ON WORLD HUNGER
A free 2011 World Hunger Lenten
Series, "Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread," is now available
online! Created by mem-bers of the Upper Susquehanna Synod, the
compre-hensive materials include: Bible studies, worship services,
drama/ dialogue sermons, children's sermons, meal ideas, table prayers,
take-home family devotions, and fundraising ideas. Click here to download
items as Word or .pdf files. The versatile collection may be used
for mid-week Lenten programs, Sundays in Lent, or at any time of the year
for a congre-gational focus on God's call to feed the hungry.
Con-gregations may also wish to order free
resources from ELCA World Hun-ger to complement their Lenten
emphasis. Coin bank boxes for adults and children, color brochures,
calendars, and other materials are available at no charge through the
ELCA Resource Catalog. "Give us this day our daily bread; may
all the world be clothed and fed."
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2011
TAX CHANGES AFFECT CHURCH WORKERS, TOO
On Dec. 17, 2010, President Obama
signed into law H.R. 4853, the Tax Relief Unemploy-ment Insurance
Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010, which affects every U.S.
employer and several areas of payroll, tax and benefits administration.
Clergy are self-employed for
social security and will pay less self-employment tax this coming
year. The Social Security portion of self-employment taxes has been
reduced for 2011, from 12.4 percent to 10.4 percent. For those who
pay estimated taxes, this may reduce their 2011 tax liability.
An article that provides more
information can be found here. To
fully understand how this change may affect an individual, they should
contact their tax advisor.
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BOARD
OF PENSIONS CHANGES FOR 2011
The ELCA Survivor
benefits contri-bution is being reinstated at 1%
after a 10-year suspension. Contri-butions are again needed to
cover expected claims and expenses.
Over-the-counter
drugs purchased without a doctor's prescription are
no longer eligible for reimbursement from personal wellness accounts and
health care FSAs. This change is mandated by federal law.
The health plan's
lifetime maximum benefit has been eliminated.
Coverage has been
expanded to adult children up to age 26 not eligible for
group health coverage through their employer.
Visit the Board of Pensions website to see
what's new for 2011 benefits and learn about the integration of the
hospital and medical and mental health and substance abuse benefits into
a single benefit administered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield for
ELCA-primary benefits.
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claimed . . . gathered . . . sent
The Sierra Pacific Synod
PO Box 276648, Sacramento, CA 95827-6648
916-756-1665 · 800-275-3522
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